Page 4th Cover: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2002)

Marine Electronics • AIS to gain favor with companies seeking not only a solid technical solution, but also one that takes up the absolute mini- mal amount of space. The core product of the X-Pack range is the X-Pack DS

AIS-Transponder, assembled to ISO 9001 Standard by outsourced production partner Siemens AG Austria. The X-

Pack DS AIS-Transponder integrated alphanumeric keyboard to ensure its popularity with space conscious owners.

The X- Pack DS, which interfaces with existing NMEA compatible equip- ment, automatically and continuously broadcasts and receives static, dynamic and voyage related ship data and exchanges it with other AIS equipped vessels and shore stations within VHF range. The company intentionally creat- ed a unit with a compact design - 280 x 200 x 60 mm.

Japan Radio Company's (JRC) AIS product — JHS 180 has been type- approved. It is a shipborne system that is capable of continuously broadcasting ownship information while continually receiving and displaying information being broadcast from other vessels. New technology on the unit includes Self-

Organized Time Division Multiple

Access (SOTDMA), which allows increased interoperability while helping to eliminate channel congestion. In addition, the VHF data link allows the

AIS to "see around corners," helping to avoid dangerous situations before visual contact is established.

Founded in 1948, and boasting more than a generation of designing commu- nication products for use at sea, Sailor offers the UAIS 1800 (Universal Auto- matic Identification System), a Class A ship borne transponder designed to com- ply with the IMO Resolutions

MSC.74(69), Annex 3, for compulsory installation on SOLAS Convention ves- sels.

The Skanti UAIS 2000 has been developed according to IMO's require- ments and fulfils the requirements for

Class A ship borne equipment of the

Universal Automatic Identification Sys- tem (AIS). It is designed according to, among others, IMO resolution MSC.74 (69) Annex 3., "Recommendation for performance standard of UAIS;"

ITU.R.M.1371 "Technical characteris- tics for an Universal Ship borne Auto- matic Identification System"; IEC 61993 Part 2 "Universal Ship borne

Automatic Identification System (AIS).

Operational and Performance Require- ments, Methods of Testing and Required

Test Results"; and IEC 61162 "Maritime

Navigation and Radio Communication

Equipment and Systems - Digital Inter- faces."

The KDU 2000, Keyboard Display

Unit, fulfills the IMO requirements for a control and display unit. However, the

UAIS 2000 will typically be connected to more advanced display systems, which may already be installed on board the vessels.

ObsTek and its partner SML Tech- nologies, manufacturers and distributors of vessel traffic management and port safety systems have already been award- ed a contract, and have been approved, by the United States Coast Guard for the demonstration of a Universal Automatic

Identification System (UAIS) in the port of New Orleans. The demonstration consisted of two UAIS transponders: one connected to a desktop system and one to a portable system; the demo took place in the spring of 2000. The Coast

Guard has solicited public comments on its proposal to the IMO before it pre- sented draft recommendations at an intersessional meeting of the Maritime

Safety Committee (MSC) in February.

The MSC will meet again in May to develop amendments to the Safety of

Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) that

IMO will vote on at an international conference on Maritime security sched- uled for December 2002. The initiatives the Coast Guard is considering propos- ing range from vessel equipment to increased portside security and would apply to vessels currently subject to

SOLAS (vessels over 300 gt engaged on intentional voyages, and vessels over 500 gt on any voyage).

For more information on the companies listed in this report, circle the appropriate number on the Reader Service Card in this edition, or visit www.maritimerepor- terinfo.com.

ICAN 5

Japan Radio Co. 6

Kelvin Hughes 7

Nauticast 8

Obstek 74

Radio Holland 9

Saab TransponderTech 10

Sailor 11

Skanti 2

Sperry Marine 13

STN Atlas 4

Tokimec 15

Transas 6

ECDIS doesn't make navigation decisions... ...watchstanders do.

Building and following a voyage plan requires informed decision making. It is important that your watchstanders are pro- ficient ECDIS operators. MSI offers a

USCG-approved ECDIS course that not only insures the operator's ability to properly use the equipment, but also strengthens the decision making process.

MSI uses full mission bridge simulators in a portion of the course so watch- standers can make critical decisions in a total operational environment. Our fees are competitive, and our course coverage is practical and complete. www.marinesafety.com

Newport, Rl (800) 341-1353

Norfolk, VA (757) 423-2320

San Diego, CA (619) 231-3333

MarineSafety international the best safety device on any ship is a well-trained crew.

Circle 283 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com 64 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News